#InTheLoop | Live at the Gantries 2021 Offers Great Music, Great Views
Greater Astoria Historical Society President Bob Singleton will lead a tour of the Gantries on Sunday, July 18, at 11 am. He’ll probably discuss how industry, commerce, and transportation have mixed there for years, mentioning that the Western Queens neighborhood is the epitome of New York City, which constantly changes and adapts to the time.
Two days later, the area will kick off Live at the Gantries, a shining example of its latest phase as a high-end residential area with fantastic dining and night life. Spearheaded by Kupferberg Center for the Arts, this concert series presents a diverse array of groups on six consecutive Tuesdays, always starting at 7 pm. The shows are free, open to the public, and perfectly enhanced by the East River and Midtown Manhattan Skyline in the background.
Grammy-winning Salsa and Latin Jazz group Supermambo goes first on July 20. Felipe Fournier, a percussionist and vibes player from Costa Rica, has assembled a group of fantastic musicians who will jam with special guest Jeremy Bosch, a Grammy-winning composer and singer. The audience can expect a super-creative repertoire of original songs about a Latin superhero who fuses the comic book world with Salsa.
The Queens-based George Gee Big Band will mix Swing and Jazz on July 27. Audience members will surely want to dance to this four-decade-old group that has a weekly gig at Swing 46 in Times Square.
The beat goes on with Music From The Sole on Aug. 3. Honoring tap dance’s jazz and improvisational roots, the group incorporates influences from Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Funk, and House while playing original tap music.
The second half is equally impressive.
The Gentlemen of Soul, a three-man vocal group, will take the public on a journey through Soul, R&B, and Dance music on Aug. 10.
Dominican Republic native Yasser Tejeda, a guitarist, vocalist, and composer, will play Bachata, a sensual, danceable rhythm from his homeland, on Aug. 17.
The final act is On The Sun on Aug. 24. This Brooklyn-based band has created its own groove genre steeped in Classic and Contemporary Soul, Funk, Americana, R&B, and Psychedelia.
Live at the Gantries is scheduled for Gantry Plaza State Park in the vicinity of 49th Avenue and Center Boulevard in Long Island City.
Top image: Arianys Wilson; bottom image: Kupferberg Center for the Arts
